Jean Montero becomes the most recent Dominican to be drafted by the NBA. The New York Knicks announced the signing of the 18-year old to a one-year minimum-salary contract that could be converted to a two-way before the start of next season. He signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Knicks on Friday, 24 June 2022.
Montero is a six-foot-three guard who played for Team Overtime of Overtime Elite in 2021-22. He is the first NBA player recruited from the NBA Academy Latin America’s Basketball Without Borders. He becomes the first player from the Overtime Elite league to agree to a deal with an NBA team. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists over 24 appearances in the Overtime Elite’s inaugural season.
Montero began playing with the Club Dosa in Villa Juana, and then with Club Mauricio Baez in the National District. When he was 16 years old, he signed to play for Gran Canaria in Spain’s 3rd Division from 2019-21.
As reported in Daily Knicks, Montero has a reputation as a shooter. He had been listed as the No. 43rd prospect in the draft.
CBS Sports reported that an Exhibit 10 contract is a contract that counts toward the offseason roster limit of 20, but does not count toward the salary cap unless the player makes the team.
As compiled in Diario Libre, Montero is the 11th to be drafted by the NBA. Other Dominicans are:
Hugo Cabrera. Milwaukee Bucks. 1976.
Tito Horford. Milwaukee Bucks. 1988.
Felipe Lopez. San Antonio Spurs. 1998
Luis Flores. Houston Rockets. 2004.
Francisco García. Sacramento Kings. 205.
Charlie Villanueva. Toronto Raptors. 2005.
Sammy Mejia. Detroit Pistons. 2007
Al Horford. Atlanta Hawks. 2007
Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota Timberwolves. 2015.
Chris Duarte. Indiana Pacers. 2021.
Read more:
NBA Draft Junkies
Hoopswire
Daily Knicks
CBS Sports
27 June 2022